Industry minister visits Jaber crossing, Jordanian-Syrian free zone

AMMAN — Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Yarub Qudah on Thursday visited the Jaber Border Crossing and the Jordanian-Syrian Joint Free Zone.

Qudah said that some 130 trucks were expected to cross the Jaber Border on Thursday, along with more than 85 trucks from the Jordanian-Syrian Free Zone heading into Syria, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.  

This demonstrates the "high" level of readiness of the border crossings, where the government, in coordination with relevant authorities at the crossings, is fully prepared to provide the necessary support, the minister pointed out.

He noted that Jordan has implemented several measures to ensure the smooth flow of goods, including allowing the "back-to-back" system, where goods are transferred to Syrian trucks within the customs area. 

Qudah said that the government had also approved the "door-to-door" system, permitting Jordanian trucks to enter Syrian territory directly, aiming to overcome obstacles to the flow of goods into Syria. 

All foreign goods are now allowed to transit through Jordan to Syria, with a significant number of trucks having already crossed into Syria via transit, the minister said, noting that Syrian goods are also permitted to transit through Jordan to other countries.

Qudah stressed that His Majesty King Abdullah had directed the government to provide all possible support to the Syrian people, where a task force was formed to fully restore the Jaber Border Crossing and the Jordanian-Syrian Free Zone to facilitate the flow of goods into Syria. 

He said that the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO) dispatched an aid convoy to the Syrian people last week.

Over the past three days, the movement of goods from Jordan to Syria and vice versa, through Jordan to other countries, has resumed. 

Around 500 trucks loaded with goods have been sent to Syria, and more than 150 trucks have transited through Jordan from Syria to various destinations. 

He highlighted the large number of vehicles, high trade exchange activity through the "back-to-back" system, and the significant flow in the Jordanian-Syrian Free Zone, including trucks crossing to and from Lebanon via Syria.